Plow



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1941. G. LARGE PLow l Filed May 11, 1959 G. LARGE Jan. 1.4, 1941.

PLOW

Filed May l1, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6250/?05 J9/WE ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 14,. 1941 *UNITED STATES PLOW "George Large; Port Washington,-'Wis.,'assignorf to HarryW. Bo1ens,-Port Washington, Wis.

Application May. 11, 1939,Serial No. 273,020

11 Claims.

AThis Y.invention .vt-relates4 to an Improvement in motor. or tractorfdriven plows 4 of thetype steered Aby-V a' walking attendant.

f One of the objects of.' the .invention is to .pro- `vide a. plow of` this` characterrwhich. is simple .and rdurable .inA its construction, reliable :and 4eiective in r operation, ieasily controlled and steered; fand: tfsusceptible; oif convenient and Veconomical manufacture.

Anotherobject. of theinvention is. to provide a plow having these advantagesvand` capacities and wherein the tplowfwhen elevated fis xlifted vpoint rst so that. itrruns out ofthe ground and -.neednot be pulled outy. The-.same operation whereby the plow is :lifted also depressesthe rear caster -wheelso that the fplow,when elevated, is .riding on all wheels andzdoesnotdrag at'. times. Both actions are under the. `controlf'of..one-.hand lever'which may be'hooked. in'4 place fori'transport.

lAnother object vof `the invention. isitoprovide a; lplow whichV is. socombined .andiorganized with the tractor that thefreaction.'offztheground to the-plow and the `weight offlthe plow 1 are` both opposed to and counteract the torque reaction' of themotor drivengroundwheels.

Another objectof the invention is to'-provide a plow where convenientcontrol is'had over the level or vertical'position of the plow relative-to the instrumentalities combined therewith.

A still further object is to provide a plow where- 'in the gage wheel which regulates the depthof plowing'may be. conveniently- Iadjusted, while the plow. is in operation. A

Another object ofthe 'invention isto so combine and interrelate the lplow beam and thetracto'r frame and hand'les-that'after the opening furrows have vbeenV plowed the'device'may be so set thatthe tractor fand plow are. substantially 'selfsteering.

A stillfurther object is to. provide means for -adjustably supporting thelplow to adaptthe implementto .the plowingof furrowsofdiierent widths.

. Other .objects and advantages residein. certain novel features of the construction, arrangement, and combination of .parts Awhich will be hereinafter more fully 'described and particularly pointed :out .in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this. specification, andV in which:

" Figure 1 is a view. in-sideeIeVatiOn showing la plowconstructed in. accordance withl thepresent invention and illustrating .the plow proper lifted;

:Figure 2 is aview similarto Figure. 1 buts-howing the plow lowered and in plowing position;

Y Figure. 3. is a fragmentary View inv transverse .section taken .on line 3.-3 of Figure 1;

Figure .4. is a view in horizontal sectiontaken' onlinevlll of Figure 1; and

Figure 5. is a. view in horizontal section taken on line-55 of Figure 2.

VReferringv to thedrawings, it will beiseen that .theplow embodying the presentA inventioninl .cludes a tractor designated generally at-Illaand `having-aframe II and ground wheels I2 associated with an axle I2 and drivenV in any conventional manner from la'motorsuch as. anginternal combustion engine I3. n

Elongated and diverging handles -I l are prol-vided and extend .rearwardly from V.the tractor, Ythe handles having their forward ends rigidly con- .nected-asat I5 to partsof thetractor lwhich -arerigidly interconnectedwith the frame; thereof. 20 'Thehandles I 4 are suitably cross braced. :Forexample, as shown in-F-igure 3, across -mernber I6 may-:be providedand has its langled ends YI If securedbybolts and nuts -I8 to ,the .handles-IIL Theusual control devices, ofvwhich -ftwo .l are 25 .shownfat Iand IGZ-.are mounted on the handles fI4.

The plow, designated at20,iscarried Yby a PlOw -beamv2l. A hitch is-provided between the for- .wardendofr the plowbeam andthe-.tractor and A30 for this purpose a pair of triangularly-shaped plates 23-.are .rigidly secured by bolts 22 Ato-the forward z-'end'of the beam 2|. Thelowercorners `of these .plates V23 are -adjustably landpivotally .connected-as at 24. to a cross member 25 eX- 35 tending transverselybetween the rearwardrends of' yoke arms 25' (seeFigures l, 2 and 5). yThe .yokearms-25 has. upwardly rcurved ends `28 which -are pivotally-'conneoted as'at 29 tothe` tractor ,frameforwardlyfof the .axle I2 o-n whiclrthefi I ground-wheels l l2 lare mounted.

f For-the purposerof interconnecting the handles I4 and the beam offthe plow and also leveling the lplowand adjusting thewidthl of the furrow, a 'frame designated generally at -30, is provided A45 between the handles. landthe-plowbeam and' is .shown to advantage in Figure 3. The frameiny cludes a horizontal frame member 3| extending `transversely across the beam 2| and secured `,thereto-.by means of angle brackets 32, and' bolts .50 r

.: and- -nuts 33v and-34.A The 'frame member .3| is provided with a plurality of spaced bolt holesto provide for Atransverse adjustment of the; plow. rI'his connection between the plowbeam and the horizontalmember v3| ofthe frame togetheriwith 5.5

2 y the transverse adjustment between the plow beam and the hitch makes it convenient to adjust the plow for plowing furrows of different widths. The ends of this frame member 3| are adjustably and pivotally connected to the lower ends of links 35. For this purpose each link 35 has a plurality of bolt holes 36 therein which may be selectively registered with corresponding bolt holes in the ends of the frame member 3|. Bolts and nuts 31-coacting with registering bolt holes pivotally interconnect the ends of the links 35 with the frame member 3|.` The upper ends of the links 35 are pivotally interconnected as at 38 with bearing lugs 39 fastened with the handles 4 by the bolts and nuts I8. An adjustable and inclined brace member completes the frame structure. It includes sections 4| and 42 having their adjacent ends slotted and overlapped and secured in adjusted position by meansof [bolts and nuts 43. By virtue of this structure, the

'length of the brace 40 may be varied. The

upper end .ofthe brace 40 is pivotally connected to one of the bolts 38 whereas the lower end has a lost motion connection with an intermediate portion of the frame member 3|. This lost motion connection may be had by providing a slot 44 in the lower end of the section 4| of the brace and passing a bolt 45 through this slot and `through a bolt hole in the frame member 3| and of course, holding the bolt in position by a suitable nut or nut and washer. The lost motion connection gives better control over steering or guiding, while the frame structure as a whole properly positions orl levels the plow and operatively interconnects it with the handles.

The frame 30 provides means which renders theV plow substantially self-steering after the rst furrows have been plowed. In plowing the first furrows the bolt and nut 43 between the sections 4I and 42 of the brace is loosened. This facilitates the plowing of the: first furrows since it makes it easier for the plowman to control the plow and maintain it along the line of plowling. Afterrthe furrows have been plowed the plowman throws or Vangles the plow and tractor toward the furrow wall slightly and then tightens up on the bolt and nuts 43. The wall of the `furrow then relieves the plowman Aof the necessity of exerting any forceful eifort in controlling the action of the plow insofar as steering is concerned.

A bracket made up of a pair of bracket plates is rigidly bolted as at 5| to theplow beam and projects rearwardly therebeyond. The rear end of the bracket is provided with a vertical bearing 52 receiving the vertical spindle 53 of'a rear caster wheel 54 which is carried by the lower end of the spindle. i The spindle 53 is rotatably as well as axially shiftable with respect to its bearing 52. The upper end portion of ythe spindle 53 is equipped with two spaced collars 55 and56 releasably and adjustab-ly lsecured in position on the spindle by set screws 51. A hand lever 58 is provided and has its lower curved end 58 vdisposed between the bracket plates 50 and pivotally connected thereto as at 60. This levver 58 extends up between the handles I4 and i and 56. Above the fork 62 a clip 64 is fastened Vto thelever 58 and provides for the connection tothe lever of one end of a chain 0r similar flexible element 65. The chain 65 is reeved over a guide pulley 66 supported on a bracket 61 carried by the forward portions of the handles and is then extended down to and pivotally interconnected with the upper corner of the connector plates 23 as indicated at 68.

Figure 2 illustrates` the position of the plow when plowing. If the attendant desires to lift the plow he grasps the upper end of the handle 58 and pulls rearwardly on it. Thelever rst rocks about its pivot and its rearwardly projecting fork 62 presses down on the collar 56 and consequently on vthe caster wheel. When the caster wheel 54 firmly engages the ground,

the point of engagement of the fork 62 with the 1 collar 56'ibecomes the fulcrum of the lever 58. rlhe chain is first tightened and pulls upwardly on the connector plates 23 and consequently on the forward endy of the plow beam 2| with the result that the plow is shifted from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1. As the `point of the plow islifted first, the plow runs out of the ground and' hence is not pulled out solely by the manual force applied. As the action progresses, the lever exerts anupward pull on the plow at the pivotal connector 60 also. Furthermore, as the rear caster wheel is depressed, the plow when lifted rides on all three wheels and it may be readily latched in its elevated position by engaging the lever 58 with. the hook-like keeper 6|.

A'gauge wheel 10 is provided to regulate the depth of the plowing and i'scarried on the forward end of .a supporting arm or lever 1| passing between the connector plate 23 and pivotally interconnected therewith as at 12. The rearward end of the lever 1'I is curved upwardly and provided with a yoke 13 in which a nut 14 is trunnioned or swiveled. A screw 15 is provided on the forward end of an elongated rod 16 which terminates 'at its rear end in the crank handle 11. The screw 15 is threadedly engaged with the nut 14. A smooth portion of the rod 15 which is rearwardly of the screw threaids constituting upwardly from the plow beam 2l. Collars 18 onl the rod 16 lcoa-ct with the block 1'8 to hold the rod against axial movement. By turning the crank handle 11 the screw 15 is rotated and as it is held against axial movement it coacts with the nut 14 to swing the lever arm 1=| and hence raise or lower thegauge wheel. This adjustment vmaybe readily effected while the plow is in operation. A suitable colter 10 may be provided.

While I have shown and described one construction in which the invention may be advan-i tageously embodied, it is to be understood that the construction shown has been selected merely for Vthe purpose of illustration or example and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement -of the parts may be made without de parting from the spirit o-f the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The invention claimed is:

v1. A plow of the character described comprisy ing a tractor including a frame and motor driven ground wheels, handles extending rearwardly from lthe frame and having their forward ends interconnected therewith, a plow disposed rearwardly of the frame and having a forwardly extending beam, a hitchbetween the plow and the the 'screw 15'is rotatably ltted in an opening'L45 assenza'.

beam, ya bracket secured to thelb'eam and-extendingrearwardly .of the plow and provided witbfa bearing, a caster wheel having itsfspindle rotatably and slidably iittedin said bearing;Y aflnand`f lever having its lower end pivotally interconnected with the bracket and having a rearwardly projecting. fork straddling said spindle,` a collar on said spindle below said fork, a flexible element having one end connecte-d to the hand `lever and having its other end connectedL to thenforward en-d of tllie plow beam, a pulley on said handles overlying the forward end of :the plo-w beam and about which said exilble element is reeved, and means interconnecting the plow beam and the handles for leveling the plow and rendering it responsive to steering movements of the handles.

2. A plow of the character described comprising a tractor, a plow disposed rearwardly of the tractor and having a forwardly extending beam, a hitch between the tractor 4and the forward end of the beam and including a pivot at the point of its connection with the beam, a caster wheel trailing the plow, a lifl'l lever pivotally interconnected with 'the plo-w beam and having means adapted to fulcrum on and depress the caster wheel when the lever is swung in one direction, and motion .transmission means between the 'lift lever and the forward end of the plow beam whereby when the lever is operated to depress the caster wheel the forward end of the plow beam and consequently the plow also will be lifted.

3. A plow of the character described comprising a tractor, handles extending rearwardly from the tractor and having their forward ends interconnected therewith, a p'low disposed rearwardly of the tractor and having a forwardly extending plow beam, a hitch between the forward end of the plow beam and th-e tractor for permitting relative angular movement o-f tlhe plow beam and the hitch, a frame interconnecting the plow beam and the handles, a caster wheel trailing the plow, a lift lever pivoted to the plow beam and having means adapted to fulcrum on and depress the caster wheel and supporting the plow therel on, and motion transmission means between the lift lever and the forward en-d of the plo-w bealm whereby when the lift end is actuated to depress the caster wheel it will first pull the forward end of th-e plow beam upwardly.

e. A plow of the character described comprising a'tractor, a plow disposed rearwardly of the tractor and having a forwardly extending plow beam, a hitch between the forward end of the plo-w beam and the tractor and including a flexible connection permitting of relative angular movement between the hitch and Athe plow beam, a caster wlhee'l trailing the plow, a lift lever pivotally interconnected with the plow beam and having means `adapted to fulcrum on and depress the caster wheel into Iengagement with :the ground .and then exert an upward lift on the plow, and motion transmission means between the hand lever and the forward end of the plow beam to vexert an upward pull on the forward end of the plow beam when the hand lever is operated to depress the caster wiheel whereby the plow comes out of the ground point first.

5. A plow of the character described comprisinfr a tractor, a plow disposed rearwardly of the tractor and. having -a `beamv extending forwardly therefrom, ahitchbetween-the plow beam and the tractor-including connector plates fixed to the forwardfend of the plow-beam,=a yoke -having its rearward endA pivotally connected to the connector'- plates and itsforward end pivotally connectedlto the tractor, a gauge wheel disposed forwardly of lthe plow, a supporting lever forthe gauge wheel 'fulcrumed intermediate its endsV on the connector plates and'- hand operated screw and nut lmeans mounted onv the plow beam and connectedwith saidsupporting lever `for adjusting the position of said gaugewheel;

6; A plow of the character described comprising a tractor, handles extending rearwardly from the tractor having their forward ends connected thereto, a plow disposed rearwardly of the tractor and having a beam extending forwardly there-r from, a hitch between the plow and the tractor including a yoke having its rearward end pivoted to said beam and its forward end pivoted to the tractor, a frame interconnecting the plow beam and the handles, a caster wheel trailing the plow and having a spindle, a bracket secured to the plow beam and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a bearing carried by said bracket for the spindle of the caster wheel, and a lever pivoted to the bracket and having a fork straddling said spindle, a collar on the spindle with which the fork cooperates, a flexible element having one end connected to the hand lever and its other end connected to the forward end of said beam, and a pulley carried by the handles and overlying the forward end of said beam and about which said o flexible element is trained.

7. A plow of the character described comprising a tractor, a plow disposed rearwardly of the tractor and having a beam .extending forwardly therefrom, a hitch between the forward end of the beam and the tractor, aY caster wheel trailing the plow, a hand lever pivotally connected to the plow beam and having means adapted to fulcrum it on the caster wheel, and mo-tion transmission means between the hand lever and the forward end of the plow beam effective tov exert an upward pull on the forward end of the plow beam when the hand lever is swung in one direction.

8. A plow comprising a tractor, a plow, handles interconnected with the tractor, a hitch between the plow and the tractor, means interconnecting the handles and the plow, a casterwheel trailing the plow, a lift lever pivotally interconnected with the plow and adapted to fulcrum on the caster wheel, and means interrelated with the hand lever, the handles and the forward end of the plow for exerting an upward pull on the forward end of the plow when the hand lever is swung in one direction.

9. A plow of the character described comprising a tractor, handles interconnected with the tractor and extending rearwardly therefrom, a plow disposed rearwardly of the tractor and having a forwardly extending plow beam, a hitch between the plow beam and the tractor, and a frame interconnecting the plow beam and the handles and including a transversely extending frame member fastened to the plow beam and overlying the handles, links pivotally interconnecting the .ends of the transverse frame member and the handles, and* an angled brace between one of the links and the transversely extending frame member and comprising a pair of sections having their outer ends connected to one of the links and to the frame member respectively and 10. A plow of the character described comprising a tractor, handles connected thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom, a plow disposed rearwardly of the tractor and having a forwardly extending plow beam, a hitch between the plowv beam and the tractor, and a frame interconnecting the handles and the plow beam and having means to establish a rigid or exible connection whereby to facilitate the establishment of the first furrows and thereafter render the plow substantially self-steering.

11, A plow of the character described comhaving their adjacent endsoverlapped and re; leasably and adjustably interconnected. 

